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About Baja California

Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North Territory of Baja California. It has an area of 70,113 km2 (27,071 sq mi), or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises the northern half of the Baja California peninsula, north of the 28th parallel. The state is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the east by Sonora, the U.S. State of Arizona, and the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez), and on the south by Baja California Sur. Its northern limit is the U.S. state of California.

The state has a population of 2,844,469 (2005 census), and estimated 3,165,776 (June 2009) much more than the sparsely populated Baja California Sur to the south, and similar to San Diego County, California on its north. Over 75% of the population lives in the capital city, Mexicali, in Ensenada, or in Tijuana. Other important cities include San Felipe, Rosarito and Tecate.

Baja California is where it all began, our visit to Tecate in 1999 started us on our path. We began working with the city of Tecate and the Bomberos from around the state. We have been working to bring agencies representing millions of citizens in the State together for more collaborative training and operations. Where borders were distinct and rarely crossed there is now more mutual assistance and development of resources. 

In 2009, we began working with the group Bomberos De San Diego, a group of San Diego Fire firefighters that work in the area doing similar work. We partnered to bring training to Tecate initially and eventually worked in Tijuana Bomberos and were able to organize regional training at both Tecate and Tijuana inviting bomberos from around the area. Today, being one of the largest Cities in Mexico,  we regularly rely on these Bomberos to assist us in our training.

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Mission Day 7

on . Posted in Baja California

In the morning we went to the Cadbury Schwepps facility for a breakfast and presentation on their operations. Wow what an operation, we learned they ship to all of  North America from that facility, in the heart of Tecate.

After returning to the central station and receiving thank you certificates for our donors and sponsors we headed off to the border. Before leaving we surprised the bomberos with new Rescue 8 Fire and rescue gloves. Since Firefighters have to purchase their own equipment they surely appreciated them.  With final goodbyes we headed off for our last tacos and across the border.

Accepting an invitation from the San Diego Bomberos we decided to cross the border and stay in San Diego for a day. They arranged for us to attend the annual Mexican/American day at Petco stadium and watch the San Diego Padres play the Arizona Diamondbacks. In addition we wish to thank Arlo Nieto for finding us a hotel and directions making our arrival very smooth.

On our way from the border we stopped at Fire Etc. of San Diego, a large Emergency services supplier of new and used equipment. Through acquaintances they agreed to help Tecate Fire Dept with a donation of roof ladders. Upon arrival they not only did what they said but added two thirty-five and one twenty-eight foot ladders to the list. With all that we then began to find a way to get it across the border rather than taking it back with us for next year. Once again our brothers in San Diego came to rescue and offered to store the ladders till Tecate could come pick them up. Great for Tecate and us as they can arrange for the ladders to cross the border.

At the game we again met with the Tijuana Fire Chief and staff along with several bomberos from TJ. After the excellent fireworks following the game we went back to the hotel for a few hours sleep and to take off in the morning.

Tags: Tecate Missions

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